“For the most part, when I play music, I smell it and see colors. Every song has its own personality, its own soul, and if I can’t feel it, I can’t play it with feeling. I don’t understand what it is that makes me different, but I feel I have very little in common with anybody else. I seem to be my own strange character. If I’m right in my motivations and attitude, amazing things happen.”—Monty Alexander, 2010 “I love Jamaica. I love America. I love them both together more than each one separately. I inhabit the rhythmic aspect of both things. I can’t explain why. I do it naturally and joyfully. I am confident and proud and privileged to say that I come from a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic thing. The slogan of Jamaica is like America’s ‘E Pluribus Unum,’ ‘out of many, one people.’”—Monty Alexander, 2014

Hassan A. Shakur (J.J. Wiggins), son of pianist Gerald Wiggins, Sr., was born April 15, 1956 in Los Angeles, California. He learned to play bass at age four (standing on a chair) and with his father as a guide, developed a high sensitivity and wide range of expression in jazz. At age twelve (12) he became the bassist for the Craig Hundley Trio, appearing on television shows such as the Today Show, Johnny Carson, Jonathan Winters, Ted Mack Amateur Hour and the Della Reese show. The Trio also recorded an album for World Pacific Records. At age eighteen (18), Hassan joined the Duke Ellington Orchestra under the direction of Mercer Ellington. He continues to perform with the Orchestra.   In addition to performing with his father, Gerald Wiggins, Sr., he has performed with numerous other artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Milt Jackson, Loretta Devine, Billy Eckstein, Al Grey, Sarah Vaughn, Joe Williams, Herb Ellis and many others. Hassan also performed on an USO Tour with Pearl Bailey and Louie Bellson, entertaining the troops in the Persian Gulf. He was bassist for the Broadway show, “Me and Bessie” with Linda Hopkins and “Black and Blue” with Ruth Brown and Linda Hopkins. He was also the bassist for the Duke Ellington shows “Sophisticated Ladies” and “Queenie Pie”. Hassan is a longtime member of the Bill Easley Quartet, which has recorded several albums. Hassan also performs regularly with Monty Alexander on tours in the United States, Europe and Japan. Additionally, his music credits include appearances at Carnegie Hall, and on cruise ships such as S.S. Rotterdam, S.S. Norway, The Queen Elizabeth 2, and the Royal Viking cruise lines. He has performed in many Jazz Festivals, including the Kool Jazz, Montreux, North Sea, Nice, Concord, Hollywood Bowl, Saratoga and many others. Though adept at playing several instruments, Hassan’s remarkable skills are with his first instrument, the bass violin. He displays remarkable technique, demonstrating skill, flexibility, and talent, creating improvisational styles that are uniquely identifiable with him as a musician.

In demand drummer, Jason Brown, has been a driving force behind major artists since the early days of his career. A graduate of Oberlin Conservatory, Ohio; Brown learned his trade under the tutelage of Billy Hart. For seven years he toured and recorded with Grammy nominated vocalist & composer, Carmen Lundy; with Pat Martino he appeared at major festivals worldwide, such as Jarasum International Jazz Festival and Rochester Jazz Festival. He has also worked with renowned artists such as Lizz Wright, Cedar Walton, Nicholas Payton, Wayne Escoffery and Kurt Rosenwinkel. Now a key member of Amina Figarova’s Sextet, Jason Brown has performed at the Joy of Jazz Festival in Johannesburg and major venues throughout Europe and the USA.   As a leader, Brown has been a featured artist with the Jazz Philharmonic Orchestra of St Petersburg on several occasions and taken his quintet, featuring saxophonist Steve Grossman, to the White Knight’s Festival in Russia. He has also led his own bands at Smalls Jazz Club and various other venues in New York and throughout the USA, Russia and Ukraine.